The Grado HF-2 Review/Comparison Thread - Page 13

Excellent! I just wish I had more than my random soundcard atm!

Anyone care to comment on which pads they prefer with the HF-2?

Trying to figure out if I might want to add another pair of flats with my order!

Thanks for the Punch Brothers recommendation, have ordered it through Amazon. I don't know much about bluegrass but I do really enjoy Nickel Creek's albums.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5735723-post1301.html

HeadphoneAddict prefers bowls

Just get them both and try them for yourself.
Might be worth your while...I have

While I wear flats with RS-1.........preferring bowls with the HF-2 aka F1

I've been going back and forth, but right now I'm liking the bowls.

hello,

i already have alessandro ms-pro, did i should looked for HF-2?

is the difference worth to mention?

thanks

For those who are wavering based on the cosmetic issue, I offer my experience. I received the HF2 yesterday and listened for about 1 1/2 hours. Even in that short time, I can say confidently that they are my favorite in-production Grados and are eclipsed only by the PS-1 as my favorite Grados of all time--and then only maybe.

To me, the HF2 sounds like a substantially improved HF1, which was a fine headphone to begin with. The HF2 has more authority at the low end, and more bite in the mids than the HF2, but it does not have as much splash and sparkle up top as the HF1 and some of the other Grado models. And while they are smooth for a Grado, guitars still crunch satisfyingly and cymbals still sizzle, they just don't sear my ears.

(As an aside, I much prefer bowls to flats with these, which is the opposite of how I've felt about most other Grados. I think that says a lot about the bass of the HF2.)

The HF2 still is very much a Grado. If you dislike that sound signature, then these likely aren't for you. However, if you enjoy Grados, then it's hard for me to see how you won't really like these.

Sometimes a headphone just sounds "right." I believe the HF2 is such a can. It highlights the strengths of Grado cans (e.g., rock guitar, mids, fun), while throttling back what I consider to be some of the major Grado weaknesses (e.g., treble energy, loose bass, fatigue). They're not perfect cosmetically speaking, as we all know. At first, I did not know how I would feel about that. As of last night, I couldn't care less.

We can debate until we are blue in the face about the cosmetic issues. What I think is not debatable is that obvious care and craftsmanship went into how the damn things would sound. And they sound damn good.

Well done Grado, and thank you Todd and JG for another high point in the history of Head-Fi.

EDIT: Listening rig for the above impressions: Lossless files from iMac feeding an ECD-1 or HeadRoom UDAC into a HeadAmp Gilmore Lite.

Thanks 'Vpivinylspinner' for sharing your experience and 'UglyJoe' for the recommendation. Have checked PB's myspace site and they sound wonderful. Will get the album.

'The Monkey', what sort of music were you listening to with the HF-2?

Rock.

For those of you interested, here is a performance of one of the instrumental songs on the album:

YouTube - Punch Brothers Sometimes

This isn't my favorite track by any stretch, and it's still amazing. World class musicians playing world class music... right. I can't praise Punch Brothers enough, more people need to hear and buy this kind of music.

Im listenign to it right now, the cd that is. I have never liked bluegrass but Im giving this a try on my HF-1 and will compare when HF-2 is here

Thanks for the impressions! The more people I hear compare these to the PS-1 the more excited I get to hear them.